NO logs at all? Not even a compile.log and system.log? Sounds like it is Windows Security Stupidity after all!
We've been getting more and more reports of things not working properly even outside the Program Files folder.

But how to convince Windows that you really SHOULD be allowed to do something with the files in that folder?
It's really beginning to do my head in!

Yeah, Windows can be very annoying with certain subjects :/ Where else could I install the game without being pissed off by the security? I only have one drive, no partitions or anything... The problem must be lying in the game's rights to do stuff...

You can try My Documents? Or otherwise maybe there is some option to "take ownership" of the installation folder?
Not sure if that works; I didn't manage to bypass ridiculous security crap on my external hard drive either.
Apparently Windows is fine with the game messing around in my C:\Games\Pirates of the Caribbean folder. But NOT my external HD.
Uh? Wha???

Well, other possibilities are disconnecting from Ethernet first and then disable Antivirus, Antispyware and Firewall step by step and test again. Or rightclick on the Gamestart.exe (don´t know how that one is called), choose Compatibility Mode and choose Windows XP Service Pack 3 Mode or Windows 7 Mode, save that and start the game.
Btw i also have CtD´s or Bad Saves every few hours. That´s normal for that bloody Storm Engine but i always could save my Pirategames basically on every OS i tried. The issues that you have, have absolutely nothing to do just with the game, more with your other Hard- and Softwareconfiguration

Win 8 has more security stuff than win 7. It even has its own antivirus stuff. Whatever your problem is it is global, which indicates that it is a windoze issue. Look in your windoze antivirus, firewall, and DEP folders for the cause.